Blythe v. Commonwealth

The defendant, James Calvin Blythe, was indicted separately for murder and the unlawful shooting, stabbing, cutting, or wounding of another in the commission of a felony (Code § 18.2-53). In a single jury trial, the defendant was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, with punishment fixed at ten years’ imprisonment, and of the wounding charge, with punishment fixed at five years’ imprisonment. The trial court imposed the prison terms fixed by the jury and ordered that the defendant serve the sentences consecutively.

The charges against the defendant grew but of a domestic dispute on June 18,…